May 28-June 2, 2015 Volume XXVI, Number XIX Too much medication in foster care -See Page 4 GISD honors almost 100 retirees Stop the grandstanding Visit Us Online at www.NorthDallasGazette.com -See Page 5 Tradewinds Sip & Sing coming to Frisco Texans want grand jury reform By Jeffrey L. Boney Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times There is a saying in the Lone Star State that “everything is bigger in Texas” and Texans do their best to live up to that saying in many ways. As the number of police shootings continues to escalate involving unarmed Black men and women in this country, it has seemingly opened up the floodgates for discussion in America about the issues of race, the portrayal of African Americans in the mainstream media and the biggest elephant in the great state of Texas – the grand jury system. The Texas Legislature is in its 84th Regular Legislative Session and there has been much drama playing out in the mainstream press surrounding potential legislation that would effectively end the grand jury system, as we know it, and begin allowing randomly selected jurors to consider whether a District Attorney’s office or a prosecutor has enough sufficient evidence to move forward with pursuing criminal charges. In a 1977 opinion, United States Supreme Court Justices warned that the way Commissioners picked grand juries was susceptible to abuse and many states agreed with INSIDE... -See Page 9 Win Tix to Just Like Yo' Daddy! For details, go to: them – except Texas. Nearly four decades after federal courts stopped using this method of picking grand juries, Texas continues to operate under the “key man” system or the “pick-a-pal” system, whereby judge-appointed commissioners are allowed to nominate prospective jurors from a pre-selected group of individuals rather than pick randomly selected residents. Individuals selected to serve on a grand jury, especially in Harris County, often consist of people who have past experience in the legal and criminal justice system, or those who have close ties to the judge presiding over the cases; law enforcement officials; other grand jury members; attorneys, bail bonding companies; and various other mem- People In The News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Op/Ed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Community Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10 Market Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Career Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Church Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7, 15 NDG Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 bers of the legal and criminal justice system. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1940 that grand juries should consist of panels of citizens that decide whether criminal suspects will be indicted and that they should represent “a broad cross-section” of the community. Since the United States adopted its grand jury system from England, this secret gathering of select citizens are supposed to decide whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial and not decide whether a suspect is guilty or innocent. However, 65 years later, grand juries in Harris County consist of individuals who have close ties to the See REFORM , Page 5 The Waco biker riot and the lexicon of racism Y AR T EN M M CO By Lee A. Daniels NNPA Columnist Question: When men (and a few women) belonging to gangs known to law enforcement agencies for criminal behavior explode in a r ampage – using guns, knives, clubs, and chains in trying to kill each other, and police officers, too, that leaves nine dead, nearly 200 injured and hundreds arrested, is that a “riot?” Answer: Apparently not People In The News… Hector Tarido-Picart www.northdallasgazette.com Sherwin Boyce if the overwhelming majority of the gang members are White? America’s present-day “racial divide,” has never been more strikingly displayed than in the refusal of mu ch of the mainstream and conservative media to describe the May 17 biker riot in Waco, Texas as a riot. The r iot, w h ich o ccurred at a popular restaurant amid dozens of innocent bystanders and, acSee RIOT, Page 3 See Page 2 Anita Renee Johnson Join thousands of readers who visit NorthDallasGazette.com daily! People in the News Hector Tarido-Picart years of seminars, critiques, studios, competitions, and, for the budding writer, a busy round of deadlines for design and policy publications. “It’s time to start slowing down,” said Tarrido-Picart, half-joking. “I’m 30 now. I can’t keep going at this speed.” It’s time to calm down too. “There’s an impulse, unfortunately, in the world of architecture and design, to be critical,” he said, but he added his father’s advice from long ago: “There’s more wisdom to be gained by listening.” As a boy in San Juan, Tarrido-Picart watched his father make custom windows and doors for Puerto Rico’s design and architecture communities. He also watched his father help restore some of the oldest buildings in the Americas. “I was exposed to craft,” both historic and contempo- rary, Tarrido-Picart said. “Strong formative years, with good teachers,” he said, created a second thread of inspiration that drew him toward design and architecture: literature. Landscape-rich, streetcentered, city-delving writers such as Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes, Alejo Carpentier, Laura Restrepo, Mayra Santos-Febres, and Julio Cortázar provided him with a sense of Latin America before he had seen much of it. “You cannot capture the richness of a city in a drawing or a pretty picture,” he said. “Only words can capture that.” When he finally visited Mexico City, as a junior in college, “it felt like the city I had read about.” His favorite cities are complex, historically layered, culturally diverse urban spaces like Mexico City, New Orleans, the “salsa New York” beyond Manhattan, and, most of all, his native San Juan, rich in hurricane-resilient lagoons and mangrove swamps, and in stories from its black and mulatto residents. TarridoPicart, like Puerto Rican writers Eduardo Lalo and José Luis González, celebrates the city’s literary and ecological richness. A new kind of richness was the goal of his multimedia thes is , “Remote Sensing in Mumbai.” In one slum, Tarrido-Picart used smartphone apps to get video, audio, and readouts from an electronic sensor, a seismometer, and a longwave infrared camera. This “co-occurrence of different data points,” he said, mapped unseen patterns of land use and social activity around landscapes of mango, coconut palm, and banyan trees. “We are trained to visually understand a place,” said Tarrido-Picart of architects and landscape designers. But his methodology of tree-centered sensory mapping, now memorialized in a primer, documents urban landscapes in a novel way. paign will be going live on the 15th of July. When children are around lawn mowing and trimming, they can become injured because they are often unaware of their surround- ings while playing and those performing the work may not hear or see others near them. Regular lawn mowing and trimming may cause rocks and other debris to shoot up from the equipment, which can harm those surrounding the work. Safe Cut helps protect individuals from the debris and provides a temporary fence so that children and others may not run into the equipment. Across America there are well over 400 black-owned and operated landscaping and lawn maintenance companies which employ thousands of individuals, in addition there are thousands more who perform lawn maintenance on their own, Safe Cut will allow these companies and individuals to perform their duties with clear minds that the risk of someone being injured from projectiles is greatly reduced. Safe Cut has a "pending patent" status and all raised funds will go the building a working prototype, with the aim of taking it market. Safe Cut is made with a protective net and three telescoping poles, which sit on tripod legs. The legs can be adjusted to make the netting level with the ground and will securely fasten into the ground by stepping on the integrated protrusions. Made with a retractable nylon mesh net, which is stored inside the two end posts, the Safe Cut has a quick set-up time. The design of the temporary fence will also allow the net to extend upward, creating an overhang, which catches flying debris. The barrier can be easily stored once it is retracted. It folds in upon itself, providing a neat and compact package inside the provided storage case. The new protective barrier can be used at home or in hotels and other commercial settings. Supporters of the Safe Cut campaign will be the first to own the new equipment. Visit www.indiegogo.com/project/preview/0584f32f to learn more. The ex-soldier is a former finalist in the Inaugural Prime Minister’s National Innovative Competition in Barbados. Boyce has Sherwin has decided to go the route of Crowdfunding after he was denied funding request sighting the fact that "since there is no legislation governing the need to protect passersby from flying debris during the cutting of lawns that most persons will not purchase one". awards including Business of the Week, Business of the Year, Madam CJ Walker Entrepreneur Award, Who’s Who of Women Executive and Business of the YearNorthern California while serving as President of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, Inland Tax Consultants, Toastmasters, Chairman of the Advisory Board for a Capital Power Credit Union, and radio host of The Anita R. Johnson Financial Report. Johnson currently holds a BBA in Accounting, MS in Taxation and has penned a workbook Financial Management for Small Businesses. She teaches at the Sacramento City College and University of Phoenix. Johnson is founder of AR Johnson & Associates “ M o n e y Wi s d o m f o r Women.” Established in 1998, her goal is to provide sound financial advice to her clients.This information is offered either in one-onone consulting sessions, workshops, seminars or conferences. Through ARJ & Associates, Johnson and her team have counseled over two thousand businesses and individuals in personal and business finance. Their topics include: tax preparation and planning, estate planning, novel Big Girls Don’t Cry: Taking the Emotion Out of Finances, Money Wisdom for Small Businesses, pre-retirement for Federal Employees, specifically the Environmental Protection Agency, and Race to Retirement. By Corydon Ireland Harvard Staff Writer Héctor Tarrido-Picart will leave the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) with a rare dual degree, a master’s in both landscape architecture and urban design. He also finds joy in literature and is fascinated by rich urban landscapes. He arrived in the fall of 2012 with a bachelor’s in architecture from Cornell University and four years of experience at a Boston engineering firm. What followed were three grueling Sherwin Boyce Bridgetown, Barbados (BlackNews.com) -- It is difficult to force children to stay inside when lawn work is being done. Safe Cut provides a physical barrier so that children and others will not be harmed while an individual is doing lawn maintenance. Sherwin Boyce, creator of the product, has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise financial support for the further development and future manufacturing of the product. The campaign has a goal of $30,000 and is offering many special perks to its supporters; this cam- Anita Renee’ Johnson Anita Renee’ Johnson was destined to be an expert speaker in financial management for women. Knowing and understanding the function of money has given her a wealth of knowledge. An entrepreneur since 1993, she has consulted over 500 individuals in managing their finances. Johnson turned her attention to assisting women with finances; after seeing countless women not making the grade managing their finances as well as seeing her own family members suffer financial ruins, led her to create a curriculum that will allow women to become financially www.NorthDallasGazette.com savvy. It is estimated that 90% of women will retire in poverty. These numbers outranged her so much she decided to focus her efforts towards assisting women by opening The Noble Meadows Foundation, created to assist women with financial literacy through classes. Johnson has won several 2 | May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette $69* DIVORCE Criminal Defense • DWI / Suspended License • WARRANTS Removed ¥ • 24 Hour Jail Release ¥ • Occupational license, felonies • Protective Order • Misdeamenor/Felonies ¥ Family Cases • Divorce / Annulment • Child Support / Paternity • Custody Modification • Restraining Order • Protective Order • Name Change / Adoption • Domestic Violence Easy Payment Plans Law Offices Of Vincent Ndukwe 214-638-5930 817-277-0196 (Metro) 2730 N. Stemmons Frwy, Suite 409 • Dallas, TX 75207 N o t C e r t i f i e d b y t h e Te x a s B o a r d o f L e g a l S p e c i a l i z a t i o n ¥ If you qualify. *Fees quoted above are minimum down payment needed to begin processing your case. For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com www.NorthDallasGazette.com P.O. Box 763866 • Dallas, Texas 75376-3866 Phone: 972-516-4191 - Fax: 972-509-9058 North Dallas Gazette assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit and make appropriate revisions. “Do what you say you are going to do ... when you say you are going to do it.” Publisher’s Office: [email protected] Sales Department: [email protected] Editorial Department: [email protected] Online: www.NorthDallasGazette.com www.twitter.com/NDGEditor www.facebook.com/NorthDallasGazette www.pinterest.com/NDallasGazette STAFF Chairman Emeritus Jim Bochum 1933 – 2009 Published By Minority Opportunity News, Inc. Web Master Todd Jones Special Projects Manager Edward Dewayne “Preacher Boy” Gibson, Jr. James C. Allen Community Marketing Nina Garcia Sonja Washington Religious/ Marketing Editor Shirley Demus Tarpley Advisory Board: John Dudley Myrtle Hightower Fred Moses Annie Dickson Cecil Starks Willie Wattley Coty Rodriguez-Anderson B. J. Williams Denise Upchurch Barbara Simpkins, ADVISORY BOARD SECRETARY Editor Ruth Ferguson VP of Digital Marketing and Entertainment Jessica Brewer Contributing Writers Jackie Hardy Ivy N. McQuain Terri Schlichenmeyer Nicole Scott Tamarind Phinisee Editorial Writers Ivy N. McQuain Ruth Ferguson Nicole Scott Production David Wilfong Advisory Board Committees: Public Relations Planning and Implementation Cecil Starks, CHAIRPERSON Business Growth Referral John Dudley, CHAIRPERSON Program Policy Development Annie Dickson, CHAIRPERSON Quality Assurance Myrtle Hightower, CHAIRPERSON Coty Rodriguez The North Dallas Gazette, formerly Minority Opportunity News, was founded in July 1991, by Mr.Jim Bochum and Mr.Thurman R. Jones. North Dallas Gazette is a wholly owned subsidairy of Minority Opportunity News, Inc. Op-Ed Blacks less likely to get business loans By Freddie Allen Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Black-owned businesses face tougher challenges than other groups when seeking bank loans, according to a new study by the Gallup polling company commissioned by Wells Fargo. Nearly half (47 percent) of Black-owned businesses operate in the South and the study found that 77 percent of Black business owners use personal cash to finance their businesses. African-American business owners were less likely to borrow money for business reasons than Asian and Hispanic business owners. “Twenty-two percent of African American business owners say they felt that discrimination from a financial institution based on their race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation had impacted their chances to obtain credit for their busi- cording to police, involved members of five different gangs, was one of the most extraordinary outbursts of mass criminal violence in recent memory. Further, almost immediately after Waco police arrested the bikers, rumors swirled that other members of the gangs were heading toward the city to both continue the battle against their rivals and carry out death threats made against Waco police officials. Yet, scanning the newspapers, the universe of online publications, and the network and cable television news programs, you’d have scarcely come across any description of what occurred in Waco as a “riot.” Nor would you have likely found any reference to the bikers, clad in their distinctively grungy biker garb, as “thugs” – or, as one newspaper reader put it: “murdering thuggish rioters.” MediaMatters, the watchdog group, pointed out the contrast in how Fox News, for example, covered Waco versus Baltimore and Ferguson. It noted, “After AfricanAmerican communities in Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo. came together to demonstrate against the deadly and racially disparate policies of law enforcement, Fox News branded the protests a ‘war on cops.’ But when the story became a mostly white Texas biker gang plotting to kill police with grenades and car bombs, the network took a decidedly less sensationalist approach in its reporting.” CNN Political Commentator Sally Kohn wrote, “In fact, in much of the coverage of the Waco shootings, the race of the gang members isn’t even mentioned. By comparison, the day after Freddie Gray died in the custody of police officers in Baltimore, not only did most coverage mention that Gray was black, but also included a quote from the deputy police commissioner noting Gray was arrested in ‘a high-crime area known to have high narcotic incidents,’ implicitly smearing Gray and the entire community.” The disparity in coverage did not go unremarked upon on Black social media, in a host of progressive publications, and in numerous online reader-responses to mainstream-publication stories. (Many also noted the Waco police responded to the deadly shootout with none of the heavily-militarized equipment and body armor that immediately marked police responses to peaceful protests in Ferguson and Baltimore.) Indeed, the differences in the language used underscore that the way words and phrases are used to talk about race and racial events RIOT, continued from Page 1 For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com ness,” stated the report. “Among those who indicated they needed credit, African American owners, in particular, say they were not able to get all the credit they needed.” According to the report, 13 percent of Black business owners obtained the credit they needed, compared to 20 percent for Hispanic owners, 24 percent of Asian owners and 23 percent of owners in general. The report also found that the larger the loan request, has its own meaning. In this instance, it’s that such words as “riot” and “thug” are part of the lexicon of America’s continuing racial divide that, among other things, individualizes White crime and White flaws while it indicts all Black Americans for the flaws and crimes of individual Blacks. Some years ago a journalist friend of mine described this dynamic as “the chains of collective guilt.” The phenomenon isn’t new, of course. Once, the lexicon of anti-Black collective guilt helped justify the actual chains of Negro slavery and the legalized racism that followed. Now, it’s usually employed in more subtle ways. Except when it’s not: As in the revealing discoveries over the past two months of racist, sexist and homophobic tweets and e-mails by cops in the police departments of San Francisco, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In each case – all are still in early stages of investigation – police officers, some with long years on their force, were found to have exchanged from dozens to hundreds of social-media messages disparaging with vile slurs against Blacks, Hispanic-Americans, women, gays and lesbians, Muslim Americans – and, of course, President Obama. Law enforcement co-workers and innocent civilians alike were denigrated along the higher the rejection rate. Overall, 27 percent of applications for larger loans were turned down and only 7 percent for smaller ones. The highest rejection rate – 38 percent – was among Black business owners seeking a loan of at least $250,000; 17 percent of Blacks seeking a loan less than $50,000 were rejected. By comparison, 33 percent of Asian owners were turned down for larger loans See BANKS, Page 11 with Black criminal suspects. The bulk of the messages in all these instances, which cover from 2010 to the present, focused on Black Americans. The discoveries have led to the resignations of some of the officers, and disciplinary actions, including firing, against the others. Even more important, prosecutors and police officials in the three cities are reviewing cases of defendants in which the officers were involved either as arresting officers or witnesses at trial. In San Francisco, prosecutors have already dropped eight cases connected to some of the officers there. One Miami Beach cop tried to excuse his behavior by describing it as just part of the police department’s longstanding “culture.” Unfortunately, the same could be said for the mainstream and conservative media’s refusal to use the most accurate descriptions for the Waco biker riot. It’s those similarities that are worrisome. Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His essay, “Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Great Provocateur,” appears in Africa’s Peacemakers: Nobel Peace Laureates of African Descent (2014), published by Zed Books. His new collection of columns, Race Forward: Facing America’s Racial Divide in 2014, is available at www.amazon.com. May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette | 3 Health Stopping the over-medication of children in foster care By Marian Wright Edelman On any given day nearly one in four children in foster care is taking at least one psychotropic medication— more than four times the rate for all children. Nearly half of children living in residential treatment centers or group homes take psychotropic medications. Children in foster care are more likely to be prescribed multiple psychotropic medications at very high doses, although research shows higher doses can result in serious side effects. Viewers of the ABC News program 20/20 may remember Ke’onte Cook from a few years ago, a 10year-old who had already spent four years in foster care being treated with a dozen different medications for conditions including seizures, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. Ke’onte had never been diagnosed with the conditions some of the medications were meant to treat. Under his adoptive parents’ care he stopped taking all the medications and started relying on therapy, and with that new treatment plan he was transformed. Why are some children in foster care being overmedicated, and what steps do we need to take to do something about it? Psychotropic medications act on the brain and central nervous system to cause changes in mood, behavior, or perception. They can be effective treatments for certain serious mental health conditions but there is a growing concern that too many children in foster care ar e over med icated— in some cases as a form of behavior control. Children who come into foster care often have been exposed to multiple traumatic events including the removal from their families, and may be at higher risk for mental health problems and emotional disorders. Too often multiple medications may be used without other kinds of effective treatments that might better address the underlying trauma children are experiencing. There’s evidence some children in foster care are subjected to powerful medications at very young ages and/or in combinations and amounts that are unsafe for children of any age. Many psychotropic medications are not approved for use in children at all. Often children in foster care are prescribed drugs without any psychotherapy because resources aren’t available. They may not receive a proper initial diagnosis or any of the ongoing monitoring or extra services that should accompany the use of such powerful drugs—all essential considering the serious side effects from some that can include nightmares, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and even death. The 20/20 special included the heartbreaking story of Gabriel Myers, a Florida seven-year-old who hung himself in his foster family’s bathroom. A state investigation concluded the use of psychotropic drugs was a contributing factor in his death. His foster father said the doctor who prescribed the many drugs Gabriel was taking—some so strong that even the pharmacy filling them raised red flags—would spend no more than five minutes with the little boy before sending him out the door with another prescription. We must do better. Last year JooYeun Chang, Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children, Youth, Texas ranked 41 for senior health this year, according to the third edition of United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report: A Call to Action for Individuals and Their Communities. Nationwide, the report shows positive trends for senior health, especially for those measures that look at whether seniors are getting the right care in a setting of their choice. Seniors are experiencing lower hospital readmission rates and preventable hospitalization rates compared to last year, while hospice care use and the number of home health- care workers have increased. “United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Senior Report is a vital tool for understanding where we, as a state, are making strides in senior health and where key challenges for Texas’s seniors remain,” said Marshall Dawer, M.D., Medical Director, UnitedHealthcare of Central and North Texas. “With America’s senior population poised to double by 2050, we must continue to invest in programs and solutions that address our seniors’ health needs and help them live the best lives they possibly can.” Texas’ Overall Health The America’s Health Rankings Senior Report finds that Texas has its share of strengths and challenges. Texas' Strengths • Ready availability of home health care providers • Low prevalence of fullmouth tooth extraction • Few poor mental health days Texas' Challenges • High prevalence of physical inactivity • Low percentage of quality nursing home beds • High prevalence of food insecurity www.NorthDallasGazette.com See FOSTER, Page 6 Texas Ranks 41 for Senior Health 4 | May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com www.NorthDallasGazette.com REFORM, continued from Page 1 legal and criminal justice community and are seemingly less likely to sympathize with a defendant – especially in the case of police involved shootings. There is no other place in the country that has a system of choosing grand juries the way Texas does, and while that system has been in place for some time now, it has been under fire for by many who believe it is unfair and discriminatory. As we look at the consistent pattern of outcomes from grand juries across the U.S., particularly in Harris County, it is not difficult to understand why there has been an outcry for change. In a story reported by the Associated Press in 2014, they cited two major issues with the current grand jury system – the ongoing debate surrounding the use of Texas grand jury shooting simulators and an investigation by the Houston Chronicle last year that found that Harris County grand juries have cleared Houston police officers in shootings 288 consecutive times since 2004. On December 23, 2014, a police officer. Because grand jury proceedings are secretive and never made public, never has the opportunity to hear from or know why the grand jury decides to indict someone or “no-bill” someone. Many community activists, lawyers, judges, elected officials and Texans believe introducing new legislation would end the perception that the grand jury process is unfair and discriminatory and they want to end the archaic practice this legislative session. There are a few others, h o w e v e r, w h o b e l i e v e changing the current process would disrupt the integrity of the process and make it more difficult to find individuals who have enough time to serve on a grand jury. State Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) has been one of those who has filed a number of bills in the Texas House to bring forth grand jury reforms, but not without controversy and drama. While all of the activity and traction surrounding grand jury reform was happening in the Texas Senate, Dutton’s grand jury H.B. Harris County grand jury added the 289th Houston police officer to the growing list, when they decided not to indict Houston Police Department (HPD) officer Juvenito Castro for his role in the January 2014 shooting death of unarmed 26year-old Jordan Baker, who was racially-profiled and mistakenly identified as a criminal. The overarching perception many officers seem to have, and grand juries appear to agree with, is that young Black men are overly aggressive, inherently up to no good and because they were in fear of their life they had to shoot to defend themselves. Then after a grand jury is convened in Harris County, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office introduces new grand jurors to a firearms shooting simulator as part of their orientation, and assigns them duties which includes reviewing police shootings and giving the grand jurors a modified gun so they can shoot a beam at the simulator screen as if they were playing out the role of an actual 282, eliminating the “picka-pal” system, was passed out of committee and was set for debate on the House floor – unlike the Senate bill. State Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston), whose S.B. 135 received unanimous bipartisan support with a 31 to 0 vote was sent to the Texas House, but had not yet been brought before the full House for a vote. Both Sen. Whitmire and Rep. Dutton filed bills that would eliminate the “picka-pal” appointment of grand jurors. To date, Whitmire’s S . B. 13 5 has y et to be brought before the full House for a vote, because any Senate bill that comes to the Texas House is referred to committee, and so was Whitmire’s Senate bill. In addition to the muchdebated grand jury reform bill, Rep. Dutton has also filed other bills about grand jury reform. One bill created a legal presumption that grand jurors would be selected from the jury wheel and only after making written findings explaining rejecting the jury wheel could a judge use the “pick-a-pal” system. Another Dutton grand jury reform measure would have taken off the secrecy of the grand jury proceedings when a police officer was “no-billed”. After listening to the concerns of many of his colleagues surrounding Dutton’s H.B. 282, particularly in rural areas, Dutton said he became concerned which is when he added a floor substitute to his bill which created the legal presumption in an attempt to ward off opposition. According to Dutton, the floor substitute did little to persuade members as several letters opposing both the Dutton and Whitmire bills eliminating the “picka-pal” system from three district judges were circulated on the House floor during the debate on Dutton’s bill. In addition to that, State Community News Rep. Ed Thompson (RPearland) successfully amended Dutton’s bill to apply the changes to counties that have a population over 2 million. Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) then successfully amended the bill to change the population from 2 million to 500,000. Dutton then moved to postpone his bill because he objected to having two different sets of justice and two separate grand jury processes in the state of Texas. This seemed to draw the ire of many members of the mainstream press, as well as State Sen. Whitmire who expressed his disappointment. Within the next week, however, State Rep. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) was able to add a grand jury bill on the calendar and Rep. Dutton sponsored the amendment to Alvarado’s bill to include the reform that was in his earlier bill. See REFORM, Page 13 Work Wo W rrk o on n yo yyour ur mind mind aand nd yo your ur taaan n tthis thi his sum mmer!! Register Reg Re egiist ste ter to oday od o ay fo forr ssumme ummer cclasses la assse se es Summer S ummer I starts sta st tar rts JJune une 8 8.. Summer S ummer IIII starts sta st tar rts JJuly uly 13. 13. SMART STARTS HERE. 801 MAIN STREET DALLAS, TEXAS 75202 214-860-2000 www.elcentrocollege.edu For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette | 5 Education DCCCD Students in Arts, Music and Creative Writing Receive Awards DALLAS – Fourteen Dallas County Community College District students, each one exceling in music, visual arts or the written word, recently received awards established by a local family who is deeply passionate about the arts. Students who attend the seven DCCCD colleges were recognized during a special event on April 10 at El Centro College; the program included an exhibit of works by visual arts students, plus a stage performance that featured music and writing awardees. One student from each DCCCD college received the Cecil Wallace Fordham Award in Visual Arts; students from six colleges earned the Alice Jones Bearding Award in Music. One student received the Eleanor Jones Award in Creative Writing. The annual awards are made possible through endowments donated by Eleanor and George Jones and their family through the DCCCD Foundation, each carrying a cash award of $500. “DCCCD appreciates so much that Mrs. Eleanor Jones and her children and grandchildren have continued the tradition of honoring their family and our students through these awards,” said Dr. Joe May, DCCCD’s chancellor. “The family’s dedication to the creative and performing arts survives in the works and dreams of our outstanding students. Gifts such as these are a lasting legacy that honor both the donors and the recipients.” Cecil Wallace Fordham Award in Visual Arts This award was endowed in 1979 by Eleanor Fordham Jones and her husband, George Rather Jones, in memory of her father. The award honors Cecil Fordham, an automotive mechanical engineer and veteran of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who built furniture as a hobby and who also had a lifelong appreciation for beautiful design. The award is given annually to an outstanding visual arts major at each of the seven colleges in the DCCCD system. This year’s visual arts honorees (listed alphabetically, with their home town, college and major) are: FOSTER, continued from Page 4 and Families (ACF), testified before Congress that despite important steps taken by the Administration and Congress to promote the monitoring and management of psychotropic medications and the development of trauma-informed practices, too many child welfare agencies lack the proper non-pharmacological treatments to address the mental health needs of children in foster care. This year, for the second time, in President Obama’s budget proposal ACF and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have jointly proposed a demonstration to promote trauma-informed psychosocial interventions to meet the complex needs of children who have experienced maltreatment and other trauma and to address the over-use of psychotropic medications for children in foster care. The Administration seeks to reduce the over-reliance on drugs and increase the use of appropriate screening, assessment, and interventions. ACF is asking Congress for $250 million over five years to create the necessary infrastructure to do this, including creating a special workforce to recruit families who can care for children receiving alternative treatments; better training in trauma-informed practice for child welfare 6 | May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette • Jansouk Issac Chun of Allen, Brookhaven College, animation; • Juan E. Hernandez of Dallas, El Centro College, arts and technology; • Monique Jones of Mesquite, Eastfield College, illustration; • Benjamin Loftis of Red Oak, Cedar Valley College, drawing/printmaking; • Laura L. Meza of Dallas, Mountain View College, studio/graphic design; • A ng ela J . S har p of Flower Mound, North Lake College, computer graphics; and • Rebecca Elaine Shewmaker of Richardson, Richland College, painting/visual arts. Alice Jones Berding Award in Music The award honors its namesake for her years of teaching piano both privately and in Dallas schools; it was established in 1977 through a gift from Berding’s brother, George Rather Jones, and his wife, Eleanor Fordham Jones. Continued by the family after Mrs. Berding’s death in 1981, the award is now in its 37th year. Awarded annually to an outstanding music major at each college, with preference to piano students, this year’s academic honorees are: • Cory Wayne Barber of Mesquite, Richland College, music education; • Colby Calhoun of Garland, Eastfield College, musical theater; • Melissa Cruz of Dallas, El Centro College, music; • Hector Rivera of Dallas, Brookhaven College, music education; • Michael Robertson of Dallas, Cedar Valley College, music composition; and • Tony July Vasquez of Irving, North Lake College, music/jazz studies/guitar. Eleanor Jones Award in Creative Writing Established in 2002 by her family in honor of Mrs. Jones’ 75th, this award is presented annually to one creative writing student representing the entire district who excels in prose or poetry. This year’s academic honoree is Billy Dennis of Mesquite, who attends Eastfield College and is majoring in English and history. professionals; better coordination between child welfare and Medicaid agencies in case planning and case management; and better data collection and information sharing by child welfare agencies, Medicaid, and behavioral health services. The budget request also includes an additional $500 million for CMS to provide incentives to states that demonstrate improvements to reduce inappropriate drug prescribing practices and overutilization of psychotropic medications, increase access to evidencebased and trauma-informed therapeutic interventions, promote child and adolescent well-being, and improve outcomes for children in the child welfare system. These common sense and necessary steps build on best practices already in place in some states. May is National Foster Care Month and now is the right time to ensure children in foster care get the treatment and care they truly need. Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children's Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org. www.NorthDallasGazette.com Invitational students art show" starts at Collin College THE ARTS gallery presents “Invitational Students Art Show,” which opens Thursday, June 11 and runs through Wednesday, July 8 in THE ARTS gallery at the Spring Creek Campus. Each student participant was nominated by a member of THE ARTS faculty of Collin College and will exhibit one or two pieces of their recent art works. The closing reception is from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. For more information about this exhibition and any future exhibitions, call THE ARTS gallery 972.881.5873 or visit THE ARTS gallery on Facebook. Collin College serves nearly 52,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates in a wide range of disciplines. The only public college in the county, Collin College is a partner to business, government and industry, providing customized training and work force development. WANTED OLD JAPANESE MOTORCYCLES KAWASAKI-- Z1-900(1972-75), KZ900, KZ1000(1976-1982), Z1R, KZ1000MK2(1979,80), W1-650, H1-500(1969-72), H2-750(1972-1975), S1-250, S2-350, S3-400, KH250, KH400, SUZUKI--GS400, GT380, HONDA--CB750K(1969-1976), CBX1000(1979,80) $$ CASH $$ 1-800-772-1142 1-310-721-0726 [email protected] For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com Arts & Entertainment www.NorthDallasGazette.com AVENUE F CHURCH OF CHRIST IN PLANO Mondays – Fridays Call 972-423-8833 for AFFECT, Inc. or email: [email protected] for counseling services, resources and assistance for job readiness and training programs for individuals. May 31, 5th Sunday Fellowships You are invited to join us for Bible Classes at 9:30 a.m.; Morning Worship at 10:45 a.m. and a meal and activities afterwards. And don’t forget to come back at 5 p.m. for our Iglesia de Cristo Services (the Word of God in Spanish.) June 3, 7 p.m. Join us for Bible study as we worship and praise God for His blessings. Prepare to be encouraged by God’s plan to grow. Brother Ramon Hodridge, Minister of Education 1026 Avenue F Plano, TX 75074 972-423-8833 www.avefchurchofchrist.org ______________________ BETHEL BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CARROLLTON May 24, 9:45 a.m. You’re invited to our Sunday Morning “Prayer and Meditation” followed by Morning Worship Service at 10 a.m. See what God is doing through and with us; you will be blessed. Don’t forget to come back at 5 p.m. for the Word of God in Spanish at our Iglesia de Cristo Services. May 27, 7 p.m. Join us in Wednesday’s Prayer and Bible Study Class with Senior Pastor Dr. Woodson and/or Associate Pastor Brenda Patterson teaching on the subject of Spiritual Warfare. These are cool Topics in Spring months. Learn what God says about critical issues and topics through the study of His word. Please support our Mission Team fundraiser at http://www.gofundme.com/ bethelmission. Share this link with everyone you know. Dr. Terrance Woodson, Senior Pastor 1944 E. Hebron Parkway Carrollton, TX 75007 972-492-4300 www.bethelbiblefellowship.org ______________________ CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH IN RICHARDSON May 24, 8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. You’re invited to our Morning Services as we worship, honor and praise God for His blessings. Our May Series is “Caring for Your Temple, Mind, Body and Spirit.” May 27 Join us at 12 Noon with Rev. Viveca Potter teaching on the Word of God; come back at 6:45 p.m. for Corporate Prayer and stay for Senior Pastor Autry at 7:30 p.m. teaching the Word of God. Our youth will come for Food and Fellowship at 7 p.m. followed by Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. and Tutoring/Homework assistance at 8 p.m. May 31, 10 a.m. Join us for 5th Sunday Service in the park at Central Park (Granger) 1310 W. Avenue F, Garland, TX 75040. We will have fellowship, games, a health Fair and a picnic. Dr. Terrence Autry, Senior Pastor 701 Centennial 972-991-0200 Richardson, TX 75081 w w w. C h r i s t c o m m u n i tyrichardson.org ______________________ DAYSTAR DELIVERANCE MINISTRIES May 2015 For those in need visit Helen’s House on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. (exceptions are bad weather and holidays) to receive, to give, to comfort and to fellowship. Call 972-480-0200 for details. 635 W. Campbell Road Suite 201 Richardson, TX 75080 ______________________ FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH IN ALLEN “The Ship” May 31 Join us for our 5th Sunday Super Service as we praise and worship God at 8 a.m. in the Joycie Turner Fellowship Hall, 200 West Belmont Drive in Allen; followed by Morning Services at 9:30 a.m. at Bolin Elementary School, 5705 Cheyenne Drive in Allen and bring someone with you; you will be blessed. June 3 You’re invited to our Wednesday’s 12 Noon-Day Live Prayer and Bible Study and/or our Wednesday Night Live Prayer and Bible Study at 7 p.m. to learn more about God’s Word at the Joycie Turner Fellowship Hall, 200 West Belmont Drive in Allen. Be encouraged by God’s plan for your maturity and His glory; and most of all, be prepared to grow. Dr. W. L. Stafford, Sr., Ed. D. Senior Pastor 5705 Cheyenne Drive at Bolin Elementary School in Allen 75002 for Sunday Morning Worship and the Admin. Building Address is 200 W. Belmont Drive Allen, TX 75013 972-359-9956 www.theship3c.org ______________________ BIBLE WAY COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH May 31, 7:35 a.m. Join us this Sunday for our praise and worship services and receive a blessing from God. June 3, 7 p.m. You’re invited to our Wednesday Bible Study to learn more about God’s word and how it can lead and guide you. Dr. Timothy Wilbert, Pastor 4215 North Greenview Drive Irving, TX 75062 972-257-3766 www.biblewayirving.org ______________________ MT. OLIVE CHURCH OF PLANO (MOCOP) May 31, 10 a.m. Join us for our Sunday Worship Service as we praise and worship God. June 3, 7 p.m. You’re invited to our Wednesday’s Bible Study class; you will learn what God has to say to us. Come to be encouraged by God’s plan for your spiritual growth and His glory. For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com Pastor Sam Fenceroy Senior Pastor and Pastor Gloria Fenceroy 300 Chisholm Place Plano, TX 75075 972-633-5511 www.mocop.org ______________________ NEW MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH May 31 You’re invited to join us for Early Morning Services at 7:30 a.m., followed by Sunday School at 9 a.m. and Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m. June 3 Join us in Wednesday’s Bible Study class; you will learn what God has to say to us for our growth. Church Happenings May 31 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Come and worship with us this Sunday, God will greet us and bless us with words of wisdom as He leads and guide us in all truth and righteousness. June 3, 7 p.m. You’re invited to our Wednesday’s Bible Study to learn more about God’s Word. Come and be encouraged by God’s plan for your maturity and growth; and, it’s all for His glory. Dr. Isaiah Joshua, Jr. Senior Pastor 920 E. 14th Street Plano, TX 75074 972-423-6695 www.smbcplano.org Dr. Tommy L. Brown Senior Pastor 9550 Shepherd Road Dallas, Texas 75243 Phone: 214-341-6459 www.nmzb.org ______________________ THE INSPIRING BODY OF CHRIST CHURCH May 31, 7:30 and 11:30 a.m. You’re invited this Sunday as we praise, worship, honor and magnify God’s Holy name. June 1, 7 p.m. Join us in Monday School as we learn what God has to say to us. June 6, 7 p.m. All men are invited to join us for Men’s Fellowship night. What is God saying to us? Pastor Rickie Rush 7701 S Westmoreland Road Dallas, TX 75237 972-372-4262 www.Ibocchurch.org SHILOH MBC IN PLANO NDG now has a “Special Advertising Package” for churches and non-profit organizations that need to let the community know about your Special Event. Opportunity You Can Measure... Church Events • Church Anniversary • Pastor’s Anniversary • Women’s Day • Men’s Day Non-Profit Org. Events • Fundraisers (Concerts) • Special Events (Personal or Community) Special Rate $199 (Black & White, per insertion) Ad size - 4.905” x 6” (Quarter Page, B&W) (NOTE: Color Ad $75 extra per inserion) Production disclaimer - NDG ad meake-ready is not included in promotion. Layout/production of “copy ready” ad will be a nominal extra cost. E-mail ad copy to: [email protected] or call our Marketing Department today! 972-509-9049 May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette | 7 Community Spotlight Criminal Court Judge pays visit to the Pink Tee Foundation Participants of the Pink Tee Foundation were recently visited by the Honorable Judge Julia Hayes of Dallas County Criminal Court 2. Judge Hayes visited the girls during the last class of a six week session that teaches girls valuable life skills along with the fundamentals of golf. At the end of every six weeks Pink Tee invites profes- sional women to come and speak to the girls about the value of earning an educa- tion and various career choices. This is the second time that Judge Hayes has had the opportunity to speak to the young ladies of Pink Tee, the first being in 2013 when the program started. Judge Hayes quickly accepted the invite and understands the importance of positive role models in a young girl’s life “As we become successful women, we must lift as we climb. It is important that these young women become whole women who love themselves. If they believe, the will be unstoppable.” Pink Tee Foundation started in 2013 and the numbers continue to grow. Pink Tee’s current class is the largest yet. Classes are currently being held on Saturdays at Cedar Crest Golf Course. Pink Tee not only teaches girls valuable life skills, but also the fundamentals of golf, which prepare them for golf scholarships and the corporate workplace. Pink Tee’s next session starts June 6th, To find out more about how to register a young girl in your life go to their website www.pinkteegolf.com or contact LoveVell Higgs at 972-9102476. Garland ISD bids farewell to nearly 100 retiring faculty Nearly 100 dedicated Garland ISD employees were honored at the 201415 Retirement Banquet April 30 at the Curtis Culwell Center. Celebrating 4,677 years of service to education, colleagues and family members joined retirees and enjoyed a twohour farewell filled with food, fun and musical entertainment. The dedicatory affair kicked off with dinner followed by a presentation from Garland Retired School Personnel President Nelda Landrum. Each honoree then received a framed certificate and words of appreciation from Superintendent Bob Morrison and Board of Trustees members. Employees who devoted 30 or more years to GISD also received a commemorative crystal clock. The North Garland High School Pandemonium Steel Band brought the event to a lively close, performing familiar songs in the style of calypso. The tropical, upbeat tunes were not only impressive, but they signified a heartfelt, happy sendoff as well. Retirees who celebrated at the festive banquet include: Audra Antwine – 19 years Deborah Baker – 26 years James Baldwin – 12 years Carolyn Bednar – 21 years 8 | May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette Alaina Bell – 20 years Kathryn Coleman Berry – 19 years Janice Borland – 36 years Patricia Boswell – 22 years Ricky Brandenburg – 37 years Jolynn Briggs – 28 years Sheila Campbell – 32 years Penny Campbell – 36 years Robert Clare – 22 years William Cummings – 31 years Cynthia Dabney – 17 years Linda DeWitt – 21 years Dora Diaz – 20 years Martha Dildy – 19 years Betty Dixon – 21 years Kyle Dvorak – 27 years Mary Eickman – 19 years John Ellzey – 15 years Suzanne Ferguson – 29 years Deborah Fetzer – 38 years Peggy Fitch – 15 years Nancy Gray – 17 years Dana Greer – 23 years Becky Griffin – 16 years LouAnn Hainline – 19 years Olive Haney – 25 years Alan Hardy – 13 years Christine Hart – 21 years Karen Helms – 24 years Judy Hester – 13 years Brenda Hill – 16 years Liam Hollingsworth – 16 years Adelita Jones – 25 years Mark Keene – 9 years Judy Kocman – 26 years Cathy Lachance – 11 years Melba Lewis – 12 years Brenda Mabry – 35 years Mary Malcolm – 19 years Candace McComb – 24 years Joanna McGuigan – 27 years Andrew McWhorter – 11 years Billy Merriman – 5 years Gloria Meyer – 20 years Eileen Mocarsky – 20 years Vijay Mohindru – 30 years Beth Moore – 27 years Sheri Mosser – 26 years Deborah Murray – 21 years Terrie Nolan – 24 years Peggy O’Leary – 37 years Maria Ojeda – 28 years Eileen Parvin – 29 years Tony Pribble – 35 years Julio Puentes – 35 years Beverly Purdom – 34 years Beverly Raglin – 16 years Connie Reeve – 21 years Carolyn Rephan – 16 years Diana Reynolds – 13 years Cynthia Reza – 8 years Joy Roseberry – 15 years Clyde Schilling – 27 years Lisa Schroeder – 26 years Marjory Scott – 27 years Carolyn Seybert – 21 years John Simmons – 6 years Delaina Sims – 22 years Alan Smith – 23 years Susan Steele – 14 years Karen Sturm – 23 years Connie Tallant – 38 years Karen Turner – 40 years Janice Venuso – 16 years Linda Vrecenar – 7 years Brenda Waugh – 23 years Cindy Weldon – 17 years Bill Wiley – 38 years Debra Wiley – 29 years Daniel Wilkins – 38 years Marilyn Williams – 19 years Wanda Wilson – 30 years Gail Womack – 24 years David Wood – 21 years Linda Yates – 18 years Teena Zihlman – 39 years For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com Let NDG Entertainment be a part of your upcoming events! Contact [email protected] Tradewinds Sip & Sing tour bus drives into Frisco Iced tea brand, Tradewinds, is coming to Frisco to give fans a reason to sing this summer. Tradewinds Sip & Sing tour bus is following Jimmy Buffett’s “Workin’ n’ Playin’” concert series this summer and will be at Toyota Stadium to engage with fans through on-site sampling, a karaoke contest, and paradise-worthy giveaways. Like all of Jimmy Buffett’s concerts, legions of Parrot Heads takeover the Come be enchanted by Disney in Concert: Magical Music from the Movies! Watch projected video clips from iconic Disney films as the soundtrack comes to life right before your eyes. Concert will be performed parking lots for a pre-show tailgate to get the party started. To participate in the national sing along contest, fans will take center stage to create a music video and give their best rendition of Jimmy’ classic hit song “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” Fans are encouraged to submit their music video at www.tradewindstea.com/ji mmybuffett. At the end of the summer, the top 25 finalists will be awarded amazing prizes, including one grand prize trip to Margaritaville’s new flagship luxury resort in Hollywood, FL; two runner-up trips to Las Vegas, NV for a Jimmy Buffett VIP experience; a year supply of Tradewinds Jimmy Buffett’s Island Tea; and paradise packs filled with goodies for kicking back! To f i n d t h e n e a r e s t Tradewinds tour stop near you and learn more about the karaoke contest, please visit tradewindstea.com/jimmybuffett or follow the fun by using the official hashtag #TeaTimeSomewhere. For more information on Tr ad ew inds , in clu din g where to buy the product, please visit tradewindstea.com. by four leading vocalists and backed by a symphony orchestra. Every new generation has a favorite Disney musical, whether it's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King or Frozen. And then there are the classics, from a Mary Poppins medley to the "Yo ho" of Pirates of the Caribbean. When everyone joins together for memorable moments and melodies that Mouseketeers of all ages know by heart, it feels like a small world, after all. The show will be held on June 7 with performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Allen Event Center located at 200 E. Stacy Rd. Disney in Concert coming to Allen Event Center Enter to Win! Ticket Giveaway Entertainment Dallas to host FAN EXPO this weekend at convention center FAN EXPO DALLAS is an all-ages pop culture convention May 29-31 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. The comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming show is packed with celebrity guests, autographs, photo sessions, Q&A panels with celebrities and industry professionals, sketch duels, cosplay, workshops such as special effects/make-up, and retail and exhibitor areas bursting with rare comics and collectibles to the latest nerd-wear and tech-gear. 2015 Celebrity Guests include Stan Lee (SpiderMan, Hulk), Carrie Fisher (Star Wars), Gillian Anderson (X-Files), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy), and more. The show is scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Single day tickets and weekend passes are available. Kids 12 yrs and under get in free with onl i n e c o u p o n . Vi s i t www.fanexpodallas.com for more info. NDG Entertainment Ticket Giveaway!!! Visit www.northdallasgazette.com to win tickets to Just Like Yo' Daddy @ Friendship West Baptist Church, June 20,2015. Do you have an upcoming event? Contact NDG Entertainment at [email protected] May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette | 9 Entertainment Too! Let NDG Entertainment be a part of your upcoming events! Contact [email protected] Car Review ‘Crash’ cookouts show consumers how easy it is to cook lean pork recipes on the grill this summer DES MOINES – Summer signals the start of the grilling season, and the National Pork Board (NPB) wants to encourage Americans to spice up this year’s grilling celebrations with the unexpected flavor of lean, heart-healthy pork cuts. Incorporating healthier options into everyday occasions is important – especially for African Americans who disproportionally suffer from several heart disease categories such as high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. “Pork should be a nutritious component of every family’s diet, especially with the lean cuts available,” said Celebrity Chef Tiffany Derry, a finalist on Season 7 of Bravo’s Top Chef and Top Chef AllStars. “One easy way to do that is by changing your cooking methods like grilling over frying to achieve a healthier meal.” Derry is one of four celebrity chefs teaming up with the National Pork Board for its African American consumer campaign, “DJ Grill Crashers.” The campaign aims to inspire African Americans to cook and enjoy pork in more creative and healthier ways. “DJ Grill Crashers” is an extension of the National Pork Board’s ongoing summer campaign, “The Grill Crashers,” that launched last week. The campaign includes a series of ‘crashes’ (or BBQ pork flavor takeovers) across the country where pork takes center stage at grilling celebrations as well as new pork-inspired recipes and tips. It also features the participation of comedic actor Donald Faison, an avid griller who will share how to create bold flavors on the grill Private Pool Parties Every Sunday Start your summer off with a bang and join W Dallas – Victory Hotel and Hot 93.3 Hits for HOT Sundays on the WET Deck! W Dallas – Victory and Hot 93.3 will be holding contests all summer long for pool partiers to win an official invite to the most exclusive, private pool party of the season. These parties will be held every Sunday all summer long from noon – 5 p.m. Party goers can only gain access by winning tickets from HOT 93.3 Hits OR by entering to win via the sweepstakes app on the W Dallas – Victory’s Facebook page. This Sunday they’ll be turning up the heat from 12 – 5PM with Crisco Kidd and special guest, Dorrough on the decks! In addition to having exclusive insider access to HOT Sunday’s on the WET Deck, your HOT Sunday’s ticket gets you and your friends a 10 percent off discount on brunch at Cook Hall with $5 mimosa carafes. If you’re a ticket holder, take your HOT Sunday to the next level with poolside VIP Bottle Service for you and up to five of your friends. For more info or to make reservations, contact Thomas Holbert at 214-673-0548 or [email protected]. (Top, Left to Right) Chef Joseph Paire, executive chef of Todd Grays Watershed (Washington D.C.) and Chef Todd Richards, executive chef and co-owner of The Pig & The Pearl (Atlanta) (Bottom, Left to Right) Reynond Darthard A.K.A Chef Rey, executive chef of the Houston Rockets (Houston), and Tiffany Derry, chef and TV personality (Dallas). with juicy, tender pork chops. Chef Joseph Paire, executive chef of Todd Grays Watershed (Washington D.C.), will kick off “DJ Grill Crashers” season in June followed by Todd Richards, executive chef and co-owner of The Pig & The Pearl (Atlanta), Reynond Darthard A.K.A Chef Rey, executive chef of the Houston Rockets (Houston), and Tiffany Derry, chef and TV personality (Dallas). They will partner with radio personalities in their communities to crash BBQ cookouts in Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston and Dallas, and will cook lean and delicious pork chop recipes with soulful side dishes. “We are thrilled to partner with these four recognized chefs to bring the African American community healthy, flavorful and inspiring pork recipes,” said Enter to Win! Ticket Giveaway 10 | May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette Jose de Jesus, director of multicultural marketing at the National Pork Board. “We hope to inspire people to crash their own cookouts with pork and make it a memorable experience for their family and friends.” For best results, NPB recommends cooking your pork chops to an internal temperature between 145°F and 160°F with a 3 minute rest. Use a digital thermometer to check doneness and to ensure juicy, tender chops. To watch grill crashers videos and find more pork recipes that will have summer grilling tasting great, visit PorkBeinspired.com/GrillCrashers. Follow Pork Be inspired on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and share photos of backyard crashes featuring delicious pork recipes using #grillpork. NDG Entertainment Ticket Giveaway!!! Visit www.northdallasgazette.com to win tickets to TBAAL'S One Night Only! Do you have an upcoming event? Contact NDG Entertainment at [email protected] Texas Black Business: Time to go “Back to the Future” Market Place Get those profits moving in the right direction call Nina 972-885-5044 for advertising! By Charles O’Neal It often seems the only time Black Texans think about Black-owned businesses is when it’s time to complain about shoddy customer service, or the difficulty in finding them conveniently, or their failure to carry preferred brands. Rarely do we equate these perceived shortfalls to the rate at which we patronize these businesses. It’s actually a pretty simple formula: support Black-owned businesses and (magically) customer service will improve; they will be able to expand new locations and carry the brands you can’t live without. This current failure to consider Black-owned businesses has not always been the way Black Texans viewed the critical need to support our businesses. Did you know that the FIRST Black chamber of com- Charles O’Neal merce was started in Dallas, Texas in 1926? Keep in mind this was only five years after Tulsa’s Black Wall Street was firebombed into oblivion for simply being successful in business. Nine years later, in 1935, Houston’s Black business community gave birth to the nation’s second Black chamber, the Houston Citizen’s Chamber of Commerce (now the Greater Houston Black FREE RENT Chamber). Here’s the good part: Just a year later, in 1936, the leaders of the Dallas Black Chamber and the Houston Citizen’s Chamber -- along with business men and women from across the state -- met in Dallas during the Texas Centennial celebration and formed the Texas State Negro Chamber of Commerce, the predecessor organization of the current Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce (TAAACC). Their commitment to the economic future of Black Texans spawned a network of chambers across the state, in big cities and small towns alike. From Texarkana to Corpus Christi to the Panhandle to Sherman-Denison (tiny Ennis still boasts their Ennis Negro Chamber, dating from 1947!) these businessmen and women went about the business of business. Their concerns, of course, were not only with profit making. These visionaries realized that to the extent that Black Texans could stabilize, develop and grow See BUSINESS, Page 16 Drivers: Local Mesquite Van w/Occasional Layover Openings! Great Pay, Benefits! CDL-A, 1yr Exp. Req. Estenson Logistics Apply www.goelc.com 1-855-298-4059 Same Day Move-In • GREAT Location!! (Dallas) STOP PAYING SO MANY FEES! Our rent is FULL SERVICE. We pay for utilities – electricity, heating, air conditioning, and janitorial services … it’s all included! No “Plus-E” – No “CAM.” NO PERSONAL OR BUSINESS FINANCIAL HISTORY REQUIRED! 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Studies by the University of Buffalo and Northwestern University suggest that it's because we become more trusting, in a College Educated Readers read the NDG. Contact Nina Garcia at 972-509-9049 for Career Opportunity Advertising good way, as we age. The researchers "found a positive association between trust and well-being," says UB associate psychology professor Michael Poulin. Poulin says that when we get older we tend to be more selective about friendships. And, that can give us a feeling of comfort and happiness, as long as we remain wary enough to avoid the scammers who prey on seniors. SAP Consultant Master's in CS or Business Adm.+2 years (or Bachelor's + 5 yrs). Exp to include configuration of: SAP R/3 FI/CO modules such as CCA, PS, PA, PCA. Forward resumes to: Human Resource Department Qualinfotech Solutions Inc. 2727 LBJ Frwy, Suite 438 Dallas TX 75234 [email protected] Greater IrvingLas Colinas Chamber of Commerce 5201 N. O'Connor Blvd., Ste. 100 Iglesia Santa Marie de Guadolupe 2601 S. MacArthur The Chateau on Wildbriar Lake 1515 Hard Rock Rd Bombay Sizzlers 397 East Las Colinas Blvd, Ste. 180 Le Peep 4835 N. O'Connor Blvd. Mattito's Tex Mex 1001 MacArthur Park Drive Taqueria El Tacazo 1150 W. Pioneer Drive Capistrano's Café & Catering 4650 W. Airport Frwy Hey Irving, Pick Us Up! You can find a copy of the North Dallas Gazette at any one of these fine businesses and organizations. Be sure to pick up a copy every week to stay on top of the issues important to the Irving area in particular and the DFW African American community as a whole. Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church "The Green" 3329 Country Club West Irving Islamic Center Valley Ranch - Valley Ranch Masjid 9940 Valley Ranch Pkwy W. Empress of China 2648 N. Beltline Rd. The Spirit Grille 4030 N. MacArthur Blvd #112 El Rancho Restaurant 1210 E. Irving Blvd 504 Salon 3414 W. Rochelle Irving YMCA 220 W. Irving Blvd Mitchell's Barbershop 4020 N. Beltline Rd Roy's Pawn Shop 635 E. Irving Blvd Irving Salvation Army 1140 E. Irving Blvd Antioch Christian Church 2043 W. Walnut Hill Ln Lee Park Recreation Center 300 Pamela Drive Lively Pointe Youth Center 909 N. O'Connor Rd Mustang Park Recreation Center 2223 Kinwest Pkwy Northwest Park Recreation Center 2800 Cheyenne St. Senter Park Recreation Center 907 S. Senter Rd Austin Recreation Center 825 E. Union Bower Rd. Emmanuel Baptist Missionary Church 511 Gilbert Road Houston Recreation Center 3033 Country Club Rd. Ben Washington Baptist Church 3901 Frisco Ave Cimarron Park Recreation Center 201 Red River Trail Georgia Farrow Recreation Center 530 Davis Street Heritage Senior Center 200 Jefferson Street iRealy Office Building 320 Decker Drive Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 135 S. Jefferson Irving City Hall 825 W. Irving Blvd Irving Public Library 801 W. Irving Blvd Shady Grove CME Church 3537 E. Gilbert Road Po' Boys Restaurant 4070 N. Beltline Rd. Ste. 100 Girl Friends Africa 4070 N. Beltline Rd. Ste. 134 VW Barbership 4070 N. Beltline Rd. Ste. 143 Northlake College 2000 College Blvd Bldg. A Antioch Christian Church 2041 West Walnut Hill Kasbah Grill 2851 Esters Rd Shepherd Church 615 W. Davis West Irving C.O.G.I.C. 4011 Conflans Road Bible Way Baptist Church 4215 N. Greenview Dr. Strictly Business 4159 W. Northgate Washateria 3712 Cheyenne Street New Life Ministries 3706 Cheyenne Street Elisha Mane Attractions 3704 Cheyenne Street Bear Creek Community Church 2700 Finley Rd. CADNET/NORTH DALLAS GAZETTE Evergreen Baptist Church 3329 W. Country Club Drive Fresh Food Store 4020 W. Northgate Drive Lee's Catfish 1911 Esters Road Danal's Mexican Restaurant 508 N. O'Connor Rd Fred's Pit Barbecue 808 E. Irving Blvd Gary's Barbershop 2117 Story Rd. African Village Restaurant 3000 N. Beltline Rd New Look Barbershop 3317 Finley Rd. Irving Arts Center 3333 N. MacArthur #200 National and Local Classified Advertising Network Announcements QUESTIONS ABOUT J ESU S C H R IST? An y Question on the Bible is Answered. Open Forum/Family Radio Dynamic Bible Query. www. familyradio.org or www.lesfeldick.org. Autos Wanted TOP CASH FOR CARS, Any Car/Truck, Running or Not. Call for INSTANT offer: 1-800-454-6951 To advertise call 972-509-9049 Email (ad for quote) [email protected] Health & Fitness VIAGRA 100mg, CIALIS 20mg. 40 tabs +10 FREE, $99 includes FREE SHIPPING. 1-888-836-0780 or Metro-Meds.net Insurance Auto-Insurance-HelpLine. Helping you find a Car Insurance Payment You can afford. Toll Free 1-800-231-3603 w w w. A u t o - I n s u r a n c e Helpline.org Miscellaneous AVIATION Grads work with JetBlue, Boeing, Delta and others- start here with hands on training for FAA certification. Financial aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-4536204 Make a Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. 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Reader Advisory: the National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada. 12 | May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com On a quest for qualified candidates? Contact Nina Garcia at 972-509-9049 BANKS, continued from Page 3 and 14 percent for smaller ones. For Latino business owners, the rejection rate was 26 percent for large loans, and 15 percent for smaller ones. Once banks declined a loan to Black business owners, they needed they were more likely to apply for credit again than other small business owners. In a statement, Lisa Stevens, the head of Small Business for Wells Fargo, said that serving diverse communities has long been a focus area and priority. “For this reason, we commissioned the Gallup study, which gave us new insight into the perceptions and experiences of diverse business owners working with banks, and how we can improve as a company and as an industry,” said Stevens. In an interview, Ron Busby, president of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., said there is some good news amid the bad. “If we’re being successful with the limited amount of resources that we have today, our future looks wonderful,” said Busby. “I think for Black businesses to be successful, they need to go in proactively. They need to have established relationships with their bankers Once again, an amendment was offered up by Rep. Thompson, who was acting on the pushback he received from one Brazoria County judge, grand juries in counties of more than 500,000 people would be selected from a general jury pool from which other civil and criminal juries are selected and all other smaller counties with a population under 500,000 would still be able to operate under the archaic “pick-a-pal” system. That House bill was sent over to the Senate where Sen. Whitmire could eliminate the population bracket, and if that happens, the bill would be returned to the House where there will be a fight again on whether smaller counties would be exempt from the new grand-jury selection system. Looking at things on a surface level, one could be made to believe that Sen. Whitmire was the hero and Rep. Dutton was the goat, but there are some things we need to understand as it relates to the overall process of legislation in both the House and Senate. Texas, like 48 other states, has a bicameral legislature which means that the legislative process in Texas involves both a House and a Senate. History in Texas has proven that just because a measure passes one body of the Texas Legislature, overwhelmingly or even unanimously, it does not guarantee of provide any assurances that the same thing would happen in the other body. We have seen that take place in the last session with people who attempted to get the Tim Cole Exoneration Review Commission passed. Tim Cole was the young African American Texas Tech student who had been wrongly convicted of rape in 1985 and was the first man in Texas to be exonerated posthumously through DNA testing, which proved he didn’t commit the crime. Cole died in prison in 1999 before his innocence was proved, but former Gov. Rick Perry pardoned him. The Tim Cole Exoneration Review Commission bill overwhelmingly passed in the Texas House on a vote of 134 to 6 and was sent to the Texas Senate – it never got out of the Senate. While Texas may be seemingly closer to revamping the grand jury system that has been in place REFORM, continued from Page 5 early on before there’s an opportunity.” Busby continued: “When they’re first thinking about starting a business, they need to start a relationship with their banker.” In an effort to address some of the challenges affecting minority business owners related to the lending industry, Wells Fargo committed to a four-point plan that includes more education and credit coaching for borrowers and $75 million in grants and investments in micro-lending programs aimed at diverse business communities. “We know that in order to address the range of finan- cial needs within all of our communities, we need to support and work with the ecosystem of organizations that serve small businesses,” said Jon Campbell, executive vice president, government and community relations for Wells Fargo, said in a statement. “Through this increased investment and connections with community lending organizations, we are making meaningful strides toward increasing access to capital for small businesses, as well as helping more business owners get the coaching and educational resources they need to succeed financially long-term.” for decades, and while the Texas Senate has already passed their version of the bill, lawmakers on both sides need to understand that this issue is bigger than personalities, bigger than political posturing and a defining moment for the fu- ture of Texas. There are roughly two weeks left to get a bill to the desk of current Gov. Greg Abbott and the clock is ticking. The question now is, what will Governor Abbot and the legislators going to do to make this a reality? Attention Suppliers of Goods, Services and Construction Review Competitive Opportunities at www.bidsync.com www.garlandpurchasing.com 972-205-2415 Job Position: Publishing Company currently looking for Graphic Design/Internet Marketing Intern Job Description: We are currently seeking someone to manage our new You-Tube Channel. Must be able to edit and produce video content, create digital interactive activities, develop digital content, database organization and identification, design promotional material, social media marketing, etc. Will report to designated Executive for design approvals, depending on project. The ideal person will not only help us with video production but can also help execute a strategy for increasing traffic to our YouTube channel We are looking to hire on a project basis 10-15 hours a week for approximately 45 days. MUST BE proficient in Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro & YouTube HOW TO APPLY: MUST EMAIL RESUME TO: [email protected] For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com PHONE: 972-432-5219 May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette | 13 Dallas Election 14 | May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette www.NorthDallasGazette.com For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com www.NorthDallasGazette.com Send email to: businessoffice@ northdallasgazette.com to sign up for Sister Tarpley's weekly electronic newsletter. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.” -Psalm 53:1-2 Are you a man or woman who is a seeker of God? The Lord delights in seeing those children of His who truly understand the meaning of life and why there is only one thing worth seeking, God Himself. I can always tell when I have not been seeking God. The cares of this life, the ur- ‘Seekers of God’ gent things over the important and the petty irritations; these are the symptoms of a life that is not in the presence of God. Do we understand, really understand what it takes to be a seeker of God? That is the question God raises to each of us today. If we understand, then why do we spend day after day toiling and fretting over what doesn't matter? Can we set proper boundaries in our lives that don't allow our time with Him to be continually stolen away? It is a challenge in a world that screams "activity, activity!" “Busy, busy, all day, every day.” Do you have a consistent time of seeking Him in your life? Are you committed to developing that intimacy with your Lord that He so desires? If not, ask Him today to help you. “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; Avenue F Church of Christ seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” -Luke 11:9 This is the longing of His heart. Ask Him to make it the longing of your heart. Then you will demonstrate to Him that you understand, and you will be a seeker of God. Following this, you will be in a position of “Receiving Your Inheritance.” “And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up Church Directory to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.” -Joshua 19:47 What is the spiritual inheritance God has reserved for you? When God told the Israelites they were going to receive the Promised Land, it was not given to them on a silver platter. In fact, they would encounter 39 battles in taking the land God promised to them. It took a joint effort between God and the Israelites to engage and battle the enemy that maintained control of the land. God has given you a spiritual inheritance that must be won in the heavenlies. A dear friend and mentor once counseled me after watching my life over a period and said, "The Lord has given you a spiritual inheritance.” “And, that inheritance lies in relationships, and because it is in relationships, that is the place the enemy See TARPLEY, Page 16 Honoring two veterans for Memorial Day 2015, Rudy McDonald and Betty Krause (believe it, she is in her original uniform and lives at the Atrium Nursing Home in Carrollton, Texas.) Imagine the stories she has to tell. 1026 Avenue F • Plano, TX 75074 972-423-8833 www.avefchurchofchrist.org Ramon Hodridge, Minister Early Sunday Morning ......................8:00 am Sunday Bible Class...........................9:45 am Sunday Morning Worship...............10:45 am Evening Worship...............................3:00 pm Iglesia de Cristo Services ................5:00 pm Wednesday Bible Class....................7:00 pm Radio Program @ 7:30 am on KHVN 970 AM Sunday Mornings For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette | 15 NDG Book Review: The Jesus Cow: A Novel NDG Book Review www.NorthDallasGazette.com By Terri Schlichenmeyer The town you grew up near hasn’t changed in umpteen years. Oh, sure, there are new roads, and new houses dot the outskirts. The grocery store your Mom preferred is now owned by someone else. But there’s still a church on Main , still an everybody-knows-whoyou-are watering hole, and kids still do things on Saturday nights that you once did. But in the new novel “The Jesus Cow” by Michael Perry, there’s change coming to Swivel, Wisconsin , and it’s not necessarily good. When Harley Jackson stepped into the barn that Christmas Eve and saw that his Holstein , Tina Turner, had given birth, he knew right off that the calf was trouble. It was a bull calf with an outline of Jesus, plain as day, right on its side, and Billy Tripp, Harley’s best BUSINESS, continued from Page 11 Black-owned businesses, we could employ community residents, maximize our political muscle and significantly improve public education. Sound familiar? Nearly 80 years later these simple goals continue to frustrate those of us in the business of Black business. T w e n t y - t h r e e chambers/business organizations currently comprise TAAACC’s membership while four new chambers are in varying stages of development. All this activity indicates that – despite the difficulties associated with being Black in business in Texas – there is still strong support for growing Black business with a goal of strengthening employment, political power and educational outcomes. In a renewed effort to reacquaint Black Texans with their historic connection to business development and reignite the passion that gave birth to America’s first Black chamber and first statewide business organization, the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce and the Texas Publishers Association have committed to doing our part to keep you abreast of issues impacting Blackowned business in our state. The publishers of Texas’ 26 Black-owned newspapers, businessmen and women in an industry that has been hit especially hard by social media and the “Digital Age,” are still Black Texas’ most reliably trustworthy source of information af- TARPLEY, continued from Page 15 will attacked you most. The enemy always attacks us in the area where we are to receive our inheritance.” “You must walk in faithfulness and obedience to His righteousness in how you deal with relationships." These were words of wisdom that have since guided my path. The Lord has proven these words to be true. What is the spiritual inheritance He has reserved for you? What areas of your inheritance must you take possession of? The enemy of your soul does not want you to take possession. Put on your armor and 16 | May 28-June 2, 2015 | North Dallas Gazette friend, said that it could make Harley rich. But no, Harley really just wanted to live his life with “low overhead.” He decided to hide the calf until he could figure out what to do. Carolyn Sawchuck saw the light in Harley’s barn, and she hoped he wouldn’t spot her sitting where she was. For the past five Chr is tmas Eves , s he’ d climbed forty feet to the top of Swivel’s historic water tower to check on a little project she’d been creating. If Harley and Billy couldn’t see her, then nobody could and her secret was safe. By 3 a.m. Christmas Day, Klute Sorensen was awake and fuming about the idiots in Swivel, especially Harley fecting our lives. Clear, distortion-free communication is absolutely critical to the growth, development and expansion of Texas’ Blackowned businesses and we are elated about the prospects our working together will mean for Black businesses in our state. Well before the 2020 census, Texas will have the 2nd largest Black population among the 50 states. Pitifully, even in this state’s dynamic economy, Black Texans lag behind in business receipts, political power, employment and educational attainment -- even after nearly 80 years of effort to improve these outcomes. I am optimistic that Black Texans will make the connection between where and how they spend their hardearned money and the diffi- begin walking in obedience into the areas God has called you to possess. Then you will know that our God Shall Provide. "But my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." -Philippians 4:19-20 Jackson. Because Harley was holding on to the last pathetic fifteen acres of what was once his family’s farm, Klute’s planned subdivision was a failure. Frustrated that he couldn’t manipulate Harley like he could many of Swivel’s other residents, Klute vowed to get that land any way he could. As the old year gave way to the new, Harley still couldn’t decide what to do with that calf. He couldn’t even bring himself to tell his new girlfriend about the Savior on the calf’s hide – until the calf escaped and Dixie the mail carrier spotted it. Almost within minutes, County Road M was culties we continue to experience in other areas. I know we can, because brave men and women came together in 1936 when no hotel would sell them a room, no restaurant would seat them and they couldn’t try on a suit unless they bought it first… their answer: have your own hotel, restaurant and clothing store. Seems like the perfect time to go “back to the future…” Charles O’Neal is President of the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce. Contact him at [email protected]. filled with believers and cars. And Harley knew trouble had only just begun… When I first received “The Jesus Cow,” the title gave me pause: it seemed quite profane, maybe flippantly so, but I dove in anyhow. Ultimately, I needn’t have worried: author Michael Perry’s got this one. As it turns out, the “cow” in the title r eally is n’t around much in this delightful book filled with (mostly) goodhearted characters, but he does serve as a nice cat- alyst for what happens. Indeed, though he’s really barely mentioned directly (and certainly not irreverently), the cow runs this gently humorous, sweetly folksy - but sharply allegoric - story of greed, faith, friendship, and small-town life. I loved it. Readers of Perry’s nonfiction books will want to know that this is perfect Perry-as-usual, only in novel form. If you’re a fan, in fact, you’ll eat this up. If you’re not a fan yet, well, “The Jesus Cow” will change that. CASEY THOMAS FOR DALLAS CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 Ready to Lead and Prepared to Serve For more information: Call: 214-769-7283 Team Thomas 2015 @teamthomas2015 www.caseyethomas.com Casey is Proudly Supported By: Hon. Vonciel Jones Hill Hon. Dave Neumann Hon. Ed Oakley Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes Ill Rev. Gerald Britt, Jr. Rev. Bryan Carter Hon. Hollis Brashear Mindy Owen Emma Rodgers Calvin Blueitt Dorothy Dean Eddie and Kina Smith Black Firefighters PAC Black Police Association PAC Hispanlc PAC MetroTex Realtors PAC Apartment Association of Greater Dallas Henry Valverde Richard Knight, Jr. Political advertisement paid for by the Casey Thomas Campaign P.O. Box 764396, Dallas, Texas 75376 Donald Parish, Sr - Treasurer For the 411 in the community, go to www.northdallasgazette.com
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